Authors: Bernard Lee DeLeo

Casserine (55 page)

“It’s in the past,” Risling said, waving his hand in dismissal. “You’re as popular as ever. Have you thought about what you want now?”

“I want to go back to Casserine with Adrian,” Jake said simply. “She’s giving me no choice in the matter.”

Risling laughed uproariously, pausing finally to down the rest of his drink, and hold it out for a refill. “God, Jake, the Galactic Field Commander of all forces in space, and throughout the colonies, taking a duty station on the most God forsaken place in the universe?”

“As I said, I’m not getting a choice. You can bust me back down, so you can give someone else the title.”

“Not on your life,” Risling stated emphatically. “Hey, at least you’ll be coming to see me on Genoa every few months. Besides, we may need you in the future, with your rank in place. Ain’t nobody going to kick about it either. Remember though, the experiments with putting anyone else down there to colonize the place just aren’t feasible. You two will be alone.”

“I know,” Jake sighed. “I’ll call Adrian and tell her the news. She said I couldn’t see her again unless I was picking her back up on the way to the Rock.”

Risling lifted his glass again with a big grin. “Well then, to Casserine.”

“Casserine,” Jake agreed, downing his rum.

Epilogue

Back on the Rock

“Are you going to do something, or are you just going to stand there laughing your ass off?” Adrian asked him as she hung suspended upside down, looking at Jake through the open window of the rover.

Jake was still enveloped in uncontrollable laughter, tears streaming down his face. He had to sit down, leaning back against one of Casserine’s rocky outcroppings, which Adrian had flipped the land rover against.

“I think we’ve been here before, Honey,” Jake gasped, pulling himself back up, using the upside down land rover as a lever. “Two months getting used to this place again, and after five minutes in the land rover, you’re upside down again. Didn’t you learn anything from. “

“Shut up, you big goon, and get me out of here, or I’m going toheave.”

Jake, stronger than he had ever been before, gently put his arms around Adrian’s upside down form while he released the strap retainers. He righted her gently, letting Adrian’s feet come to rest on Casserine’s rough surface before releasing her. Jake looked at her face with growing concern.

“You don’t look at all good. Let me carry you inside, Hon.”

Adrian shook her head negatively. “I’m just a little woozy. I already threw up breakfast while you were getting the land rover.”

Jake took out the thermos of tea from his pack, and poured them both a cup full, as Adrian leaned against the land rover. “Are you coming down with something? We’ve never gotten sick here before. Maybe you sucked in some spore while you were digging around in.”

“I’m going to have a baby, Jake,” Adrian said casually, glancing up at Jake, who immediately dropped his cup from a now shaking right hand.

Adrian laughed, pointing at Jake’s stunned face. “You look worse than I do. You’re white as a bleached rock.”

“You…you’re sure?” Jake stammered, pulling her to him.

“Just as sure as I am it’s a boy,” Adrian answered, pulling his face down to hers for a kiss.

Jake pulled back for a moment. “We’ll have to get off the Rock, Babe. No fooling around this time. You.”

“We aren’t going until I’m ready to deliver. I’ll be like a superwoman by then, and the delivery will be a cinch. Besides, I’ve done some tests. Your son shares your abnormal DNA. He’s a Casserine native for sure.”

“Charlie, Tim, Jas, and Sara are coming to visit aboard the Tennyson next week. I can’t wait to tell them,” Jake said excitedly. “Your pregnancy is going to be brutal, Adrian. Are you sure I can’t talk you out of staying here?”

“Not a chance,” Adrian stated firmly. “I’ll let you know if it gets unbearable. I, of course, will not have to take my turn cleaning the storeroom from now on.”

Jake started to object, but sighed instead, pulling Adrian close again. “Agreed Major, I’ll be the only full time janitor, and Military Commander of the Universe, in history. Just don’t tell the gang about the way you treat me down here, especially the Harpy.”

“What’s in it for me?”

Jake picked her up in his arms, and headed for the habitat. “I’ll think of something. You still have that Princess Lea outfit, don’t you?”

The End

About the Author

The author of three other fiction novels,
American Survival, American Mutant,
and the political thriller,
Sotello,
Mr. DeLeo earned an AA degree in auto repair in 1977 from Chabot College in Hayward, California, and a BA degree in English from California State University in Hayward, California in 1980. An unrepentant conservative, who threads his political outlook and love of America into everything he writes, the author specializes in fast moving tales of adventure.

He owns an automotive repair shop in Oakland, California, where he has worked since 1976 and owned since 1983. The author lives with his wife of twenty-seven years in San Leandro, California. They have two grown children and one grandchild.

Table of Contents

Casserine

Contents

Chapter 1